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('Model.)

T. E. CHANDLER 81; E. DODDS.

DIE FOR TILE MACHINES.

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boobs, on INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,

ASSIG-NOBS TO THOMAS E. CHANDLER AND FRANKLIN TAYLOR, OF SAME PLACE.

DIE FO R TILE-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,909, dated April 14, 1885.

Application filed November 14, 1884. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS E. CHAND- LEE and ELIHU Donne, citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dies for Tile-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of dies employed in tile-machines for the manufacture of drain-tiles. Heretofore great difficulty has been experienced in the working of these machines from an insufficient and improper lubrication of the inner surface of the outer portion of the die. These difficulties have beenso great that it has been common to run such machines without die lubrication, notwithstanding the coarse and rough surface given to the tile when so manufactured. Owing to the peculiar nature of the material to be lubricated, namely, a soft plastic clay; it becomes a delicate matter to so adjust and distribute the lubricant used that it shall reach 2 all parts of the outer surface of the passing tile in just sufficient quantity to cover and soften the surface slightly, so that the tile will pass easily through the dies and be delivered therefrom with an equally smooth and perfect 0 surface on every side. Many devices have heretofore been employed in the hope of accomplishing this result in a perfect manner,

but, so far as known to applicants, have met with but partial success, as it seemed almost 5 impossible to devise means which would so control the flow of the lubricant as to distribute it evenly over the entire outer surface of the tile in just sufficient quantity under the varying conditions in which the lubricating devices 0 were called upon to act. Among the more suc cessful devices used for this purpose may be named those of Murray and Jennings, shown in English Patent No. 1,057 of 1866, and

Wright and Green shown in English Patent No.

5 1, 626 of 1855. In both these machines a chamher was provided entirely around thedie for the reception of the lubricant, which was delivered upon the outer surface of the tile bya pad coming directly in contact with said outer surface, and which was depended upon to properly diffuse the lubricant. In both these machines the lubricating devices as constructed lacked elasticity and adaptability, and were therefore prevented from accommodating themselves automaticully to the varying surface of the tile as it passes the inner die, which variation is caused by the condition of the clay, it being of different degrees of density, causing the flow through the dies to be uneven when actedupon by an equal pressure. Dies for brick-machines have been made in this country in which the inner die was formed with pro jecting nozzles, over which the outer die was sleeved, the latter having square corners, and its opening being of less area at the outlet than the outlets of the inner dies, a small space being left between the two dies for the passage of the lubricant. This method of construction seems to be substantially the same in effect as that of the English machines above named, and is subject to the same objections of doing its work imperfectly, even as applied to the comparais evident that it could not be used in the manufacture of tile without such change as to make it a different machine.

To obviate the defect of the machines which have preceded it is the object of this inventiongvhich gives a free and perfect lubrication to all the outer surfaces of the tile as it passes through the die; and the invention by which this is accomplished consists, essentially, in providing an annular chamber of rectangular .crosssectiomwhich is placed between the outlet-s of the dies surrounding the passage through which the tile passes, said chamber being partly filled by a perforated felt-covered ter of which is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the tile, said ring fitting loosely between the walls of the chamber, so that it may have a free radial movement therein,

eating-fluid behind it, which space is supplied tively coarse manufacturing of bricks; but it .or other equally elastic ring, the inner diameleaving a space for the reception of the lubri- 1 through a suitable tube or supply-pipe, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of the die,showing the general arrangement of the dies with relation to the core.

' Fig. 2 is a section on the line a; a: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top view showing the devices used to support the core. Fig. 5 is the core, and Fig. 6 is a side view of the perforated ring, a part of its outside covering being removed. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the lubricating-ring.

It will be understood that these figures show only the die, which may be attached to the outlet of a pug-mill or other machine employed in bringing the clay into proper condition for molding; but as such machines form no part of the present invention it has not been thought necessary to illustrate or particularly describe their construction.

The die consists of a plate, A, provided with a circular opening having flaring slightly-curved sides, as shown at a, and provided with two projecting lugs, aa, which support the core-bridge B. This bridge is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 4, its end standards, b I), being expanded at the foot and firmly supported by the lugs a a, projecting from the plate A. To secure the bridge firmly in position upon the plate, bolts 1) b are passed through the plate lugs and standards, as shown. Projecting from the middle of the bridge is the core-support b the end of which is spread out and provided with lugsin clutch form, which-engage with a suitable seat and corresponding lugs formed on the core-plate O, the plate and bridge being firmly held together by the bolt b which passes through the core-plate, core-support, and bridge. This core-plate is of such size as to nearly fill the opening in the plate A, an annular space being left between them of the same width as the thickness of the tile the die is intended to make. The periphery of the core-plate is beveled to correspond with the flare or bevel in the plate A of the opening. The space between this plate and the core has, therefore,preferably, an ovoid section,'which has been found to compress the clay better and cause the tile to run from the machine with but few imperfections comparatively to those found in the tile which come through dies having a straight bevel or flare.

Attached to the outer side of the plate A by means of the bolts 0 c is the outer or finishing die D. This die is provided with a circular opening alittle less in diameter than the opening in the die A, the edges of which are-beveled so as to present its smallest area at the outside or point of delivery. \Vithin this opening a rectangular annular recess, d, is formed, as shown, within which is placed the ring E,having a free radial movement withinthe recess to enable it to adjust itself automatically to the outer surface of the tile as it passes through. The body of this ring may be solid or tubular, and is perforated radially by a series of holes, 6 e, the outer surface being composed of a layer of felt or other suitable material, 6. It will be seen that this ring, while loosely fitting the recess (1 transversely, still leaves an annular space behind it. This space receives the lubricating-fluid through a tube or supply -pipe, d, coming from any proper reservoir for the same. It will be seen that the lubricant will fill the space between the ring and wall of the die, thus coming in contact with the periphery of the ring at all points and passing through the porous covering of the same, and the radial or other suitable perforations will present a thoroughly saturated surface to the outer face of the passing tile, which is thus thoroughly lubricated and prepared for the compression it receives in passing through the die D, the smaller diameter of which is somewhat less than the internal diameter of the ring. As the ringfE fills the recess d in one direction, it is apparent that little or none of the lubricant will pass it, except what passes through the porous covering and perforations, thus preventing waste, and as the ring is free to move within the recess it accommodates itself to the tile automatically, thus requiring less force to compel the clay to pass through it.

We do not limit the use of our improvements to the employment of a perforated metallic ring covered with felt or other porous capillary covering, as the ring may be formed entirely of such materials, or it may consist of perforated rubber rings of suitable diameter and cross-section. When the ring E is of metal, its covering on the inside is filled or cushioned, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the inner surface of the same may expand slightly, to compensate for the different pressures or tendency of the clay to upset between the dies, which tendency is increased or diminished by the temper of the clay.

It will be obvious that the die constructed as hereinbefore described will not only thoroughly lubricate the tile during its passage, but, owing to theelasticity of the innersurface of the ring and the radial adjustability of the latter, will allow it to pass 'easily'small lumps or portions of the clay that are harder than the general mass without fracture or producing cracks in the outer surface of the tile, defects which are of frequent occurrencev in running the imperfectly-mixed clays from the ordinary pug-mills through tile-formingfdies.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In a die for tile-machines, the combination of the radially and automatically moving ring E, with the recessed dies A and D, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a die for tile-machines, the lubricatingring, having a free radial movement within In testimony whereof we affix oursignatures its recess, in combination with the dies A D in presence of two witnesses. and the core 0, all arranged for joint operation, as set forth. THOMAS E. CHANDLER. 5 3. In a die for tilemachines, the radially ELIHU DODDS.

and automatically adjustable ring E, having its inner face elastic or cushioned, whereby Witnesses: the ring is made expansible and adjustable, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, to accommodate itself to and lubricate the W. R. WAGONER.

IO surface of the passing tile, asset forth. 

